City wants trolley complaints addressed

The Panama City Commission wants trolley officials to move routes off the city’s busy thoroughfares, like Harrison Avenue.

News Herald file photos

By ZACK McDONALD | The News Herald

Published: Friday, July 26, 2013 at 08:54 PM.

PANAMA CITY — City officials could be putting the pinch on the cash-strapped public transportation system until some demands are met.

The idea came up during Panama City Commission budget discussions for the upcoming fiscal year. Bay County’s Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) is currently funded to the tune of $50,390 for a series of Bay Town Trolley stops in Panama City. Commissioners voiced several complaints with the service before discussing next year’s request for additional funding.

For the 2014 budget, TPO has requested an increase of $32,244, raising the city’s portion of payment for the services to $82,634.

“The issue is that we ask for minor, cooperative-type efforts on the part of the trolley — like get off the main streets and don’t stop in the road,” said Panam City Commissioner John Kady. “Every year we say we’re not giving in until they cooperate, and they’re still stopping in the middle of Harrison Avenue.”

Kady continued by saying, “then they come in and ask for another $30,000 on top of it.”

The city cuts a check quarterly to the TPO, but commissioners discussed holding payments until some changes take place.

Panama City holds five seats of the 19 available on the TPO board. Commissioner Mike Nichols of Ward 4 is the vice chairman and yet the city still cannot get its complaints addressed, commissioners said.

PANAMA CITY — City officials could be putting the pinch on the cash-strapped public transportation system until some demands are met.

The idea came up during Panama City Commission budget discussions for the upcoming fiscal year. Bay County’s Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) is currently funded to the tune of $50,390 for a series of Bay Town Trolley stops in Panama City. Commissioners voiced several complaints with the service before discussing next year’s request for additional funding.

For the 2014 budget, TPO has requested an increase of $32,244, raising the city’s portion of payment for the services to $82,634.

“The issue is that we ask for minor, cooperative-type efforts on the part of the trolley — like get off the main streets and don’t stop in the road,” said Panam City Commissioner John Kady. “Every year we say we’re not giving in until they cooperate, and they’re still stopping in the middle of Harrison Avenue.”

Kady continued by saying, “then they come in and ask for another $30,000 on top of it.”

The city cuts a check quarterly to the TPO, but commissioners discussed holding payments until some changes take place.

Panama City holds five seats of the 19 available on the TPO board. Commissioner Mike Nichols of Ward 4 is the vice chairman and yet the city still cannot get its complaints addressed, commissioners said.

Each commissioner had criticisms of the trolley service, ranging from trash cleanup at stops to buses stopping on busy roadways. Nichols attributed the TPO’s inaction to transitioning leadership within the TPO and a lack of formally filed requests by commissioners.

One specific request from the public that Kady mentioned was for an additional stop near a school for persons with disabilities in Millville.

“Chautauqua (Learn & Serve Charter School) talks about how beneficial it is for them to use public transportation, so they have requested that,” Kady said. “I’ve told everyone involved we can’t get them to stop parking on Harrison Avenue, but we’re going to try our best to get you a trolley stop.”

Commissioners resolved to form a list of specific complaints and requests about corresponding trolley stops; however, no timeline was set.

“We need to take the initiative,” said Mayor Greg Brudnicki. “We need to get specific [about] which particular places are creating the most heartburn, bring it up and get it done.”

Kady added: “I think holding the check would help,” he said.

But, commissioners haven’t taken their concerns to the TPO board.

“It doesn’t sound too familiar,” Mary Beth Washnock, senior planner with the TPO, said when asked about the problems.

TPO staff doesn’t directly manage the trolley, so the complaints may have gone to Santa Ynez Valley Transportation Services, which runs the buses, Washnock said.

“We did not attend that [City Commission] meeting, so we are not familiar with” the issues raised, Washnock said.

The TPO board must act on initiatives to change trolley routes or add stops, and the TPO staff hasn’t heard about these complaints, Washnock said.

Further, there was a TPO board meeting Wednesday, where staff was in attendance, but none of the concerns was raised, even though Nichols was in attendance.

Washnock expressed confidence the city officials ultimately would bring the problems before the board and said she may talk to Nichols on Monday to get more specific information on these issues.